U-20 MNT Finishes Busan Tournament With Victory Over Argentina

NewsSep 2, 2006

BUSAN, South Korea (Sept. 2, 2006) - The U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team finished off the Busan Four Nations International Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Argentina this evening at Busan Asiad Stadium in Busan, South Korea. Josmer Altidore opened the scoring in the 14th minute and Dax McCarty doubled the lead four minutes before halftime. Three minutes into the second half, Miguel Gonzalez put the U.S. up by three, but a second caution on Nik Besagno dropped the U.S. to just 10 men for the rest of the match. With the extra man, Argentina was able to pepper the U.S. goal, taking 26 total in the match, but goalkeeper Brian Perk did well as the South Americans only got by him once in the 84th minute.

With the victory, the battle for second place came down to goal differential as the U.S., Argentina and Slovakia all finished with three points off of one victory. Argentina took the honors with a minus-1 goal differential, Slovakia third with a minus-3 and the U.S. finished in last place with a minus-4 goal differential.

South Korea won the tournament with three straight victories, defeating Slovaia 2-0 this evening in the other match of the doubleheader. Overall, Korea outscored the other three countries, 9-1.

McCarty started the attack that led to the opening goal, winning a poor Argentina pass and pushing it forward. The ball eventually made its way up the left sideline for defender Tim Ward and played the ball in to the penalty area where Preston Zimmerman and Argentina goalkeeper Gaston Monzon challenged for the ball. Zimmerman was able to get a head to it and the ball fell to the feet of Altidore, who ripped a shot that went off the head of an Argentina defender, but still found the back of the net.

In the 41st minute, Zimmerman pushed the ball up the sideline and crossed the ball to Arvizu who headed the ball off the crossbar. The loose ball fell to Altidore and he dropped it back to McCarty at the top of the 18-yard box. Unmarked, McCarty unleashed a low drive that found the lower right corner.

Three minutes into the second half the U.S. won a free kick from 25 yards out. Gonzalez stepped up and whipped a left-footed around the wall and into the upper left corner.

The USA’s control over the match began to unravel less than a minute later when Besagno was given his second caution for kicking the ball away after being called for a foul in midfield and the U.S. was forced to play a man down for the rest of the match.

Argentina immediately took advantage, pushing forward into the attack and dominating the rest of the match, but Argentina was only able cut the lead to two when Diego Buonanotte headed home a Gonzalo Aban cross in the 83rd minute. U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Game Report